Automatic stop for phonographs



B. w. GARDNER. I AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, I920.

. Patented Apr.'25,1922.

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B. w. GARDNER. 'AUTOMATlC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS. I

APPLICATION {ILED MAR. 25, 1920.

' Patented Apr. 25, 19221.-

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BLAKE WILLIAM GARDNER, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

AUTOMATIC sror son rnonoennrns.

,Specification of Letters Patent. ,P m md A 25, 1 22 8 Application filed March 25, 1920. I Serial 1T0. 368,792.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BLAKE WILLIAM GARD- NER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented an Automatic Stop for Phonographs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stopping mechanism and more particularly to mechanism adapted to stop or cut ofi? a talking machine, when the stylus has reached the end of the record grooving.

An object of my invention is to provide attachments for automatic stopping of. a phonograph which requires no special movement of setting.

Another object is to provide an automatic stopping device that will be simple, positive in action, and one that requires no knowledge of operation of a phonograph to obtain the desired stopping results.

My invention consists in its broad aspect of two propelled parts, one being propelled by the center post of the phonograph and the other by the motion of the tone arm travelling toward the center while a record is being played. As these two main parts work in conjunction with each other, when the stylus or needle in the sound box of the tone arm reaches innermost circle groove, the part carried by the tone arm ceases to move causing the intermediate mechanism to out off or brake the machine.

I attain theseresults by the mechanism illustrated in the'accompanying drawings in which: r

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the attachmerit with its various elements.

Figure 2 is an. enlarged section taken on line B--B of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view'of the-carriage;

Figure 4 is a plan view of same partly in section showing relative position of certain parts thereof, i j

Figure .5 is a vertical 'section showing brake lever and shoe connections.

Figure 6 is a plan view of same.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing connectingmeans between the stop mechanism, the turntable and'the tone, arm.

Referring specifically to the drawings the improvement comprises a metal base plate 51 of suitable thickness and upon this base plate is mounted a carriage consisting of the members 7 and 9 provided with a drop lever connection 8, said carriage operating in conjunction with a feed screw 10 and a main lever 4 to force a out off. 7 Y

The carriage is supported and held. in a guideway 52 by flanged wheels 47 while side rollers 46 hold and support the carriage in position and reduce friction. Spring 56 forces drop lever 8 to base 41 as the'feed:

screw '10 separates drop lever 8 from the resting table 62. The clutch shifting lever 19 is shown passing through the opening 42 in drop lever 8, while slot 57 in drop lever 8 'afi'ords unlocking and dropping space. Rivet 65 through the supportingsides of carriage 7 acts to keep carrlage under control ofthe mam'lever 4 whlch has a reciprocating movement.

Screw 58 acts as an adjusting screw for restingspace table '62 and grooved wheel 48 shows the means of connection between main lever 4 and the carriage. or traveller 18 being secured to drop lever 8 by a screw as shown, operates with same manner as said lever,'remaining in position against the feed screw lOuntil' it is released therefrom by the'dropping or moving away The spring pawl V of the drop lever; it is then carried back into starting position, but-disengaged from feed screw 10. V

Whenreturning to starting position drop lever 8 follows the base bar 41 until it reaches the wheel .43, which raises lever 8 upon the resting table 62 again. At the same time spring 18 reengages teedscr'ew 10 but a portion that is blanked, that is has the threads eliminated, to ensure resetting of said spring The brake proper includes a brake arm 31, I

a hand brake lever 82, which are separate, parts or sections, each having a pivotal con-- nection, the brake lever 31 turning on a central arbor while brake lever 32 is pivoted at point 36 and has an oblong'sljot at'its center so that it can move laterally or radially, thus providing means whereby brake lever 32 can 7 release catch-spring 28 from brake arm 31."-

This mechanism provides an emergency cut off; that is,'one that can-be made by'hand.

Catch spring 28 is provided with aslo't 30' which holds brake lever 31, in locking position until released by lever 27 which repels at point 33 and the locking post' 4O securely holds both springs28 and 39. I

The tone arm is indicated by the reference numeral 1 and carries near its lower end a I clamp 2 securely locked around same, the

clamp being provided with bent pin or finger 3 adjusted as desired and locked in place as shown by a set screw.

When the tone arm is carried to the outer side of the record as in starting, the pin 3 will be at a point near the point of guide hook 6, as shown in Fig. 1; this hook is on the main lever 1. As the record is being played the pin 3 travels toward the center of circular guide 5 repelling or pushing main lever 1, and throwing the attachment into operation.

W hen the sound box needle reaches innermost circle of the record grooves tone arm 1 stops its travel bringing lever 1 and carrier 7 to a stop, feed screw 10 propels member 9 of the carrier onward through spring pawl 18 drawing drop lever 8 off the shoulder or resting table 62 whereupon spring 56 forces drop'lever 8 and clutch shifting lever 19 downward to bar 41 causing connection of the clutch members 21 and 22; clutch member 22 which turns and through a lug 59 on one face repels guide lever 23v which in turn operates the brake levers.

The operation of resetting is as follows:

When the machine, has finished a record and has automatically stopped pin 3 will occupy a position in opening along the lines.

of guide 5 with hook 6 cutting through line of travel of the guide pin; upon carrying tone arm 1 back for playing another record, pin 3 returns to point of guide hook 6 cans ing arm 4 and all connections to return to starting position.

The mechanism which unlocks or trips the brake 31 is illustrated in Fig. 2, and includes the rocking guide lever 23 repelling lever 24, clutch wheel 22 and push pin 59.

The wheel as lifts drop lever 8 in starting position, said wheel having a. ratchet on the oppositeside of plate, with a click spring 4-1-11 which allows 43 to turn while lifting drop lever 8, but will not turn in the opposite direction,

To provide means for rotating the shaft 50, which has a screw thread extending along a portion and a smooth or blank portion the threaded portion being designated by the reference character 10 and which is plainly shown in Figure 1, I secure to the center post or splndle 12 of the machine a pinion 11 which meshes into wheel 13 containing twice as many teeth, thus reducing the speed onehalf that of the disc post 12. This pin-ion 13' with smaller pinion 1 1 meshes at under side of plate 51, with gear 15,.which meshes with pinion 16 set on a shaft perpendicular to the screw shaft. Gear 16 is a bevel gear which meshes with bevel gear 17 mounted on shaft 50. The gears 14,-, 16 and 17 are alike in dimensions.

The motor of the phonograph (not shown) is enclosed by a wooden board which forms the base on which all the parts of the attachment are supported.

The feed screw 10 and the shaft of which it is a part is supported by the bearings 56 and L9. The main or control lever 4 is pivotally secured at 60 between the bridge 54 and the base plate 51.

To allow slight play of the main or control lever 4 the lower end is provided with a cut out in which the pin 61 may play holding guide in position.

It should be noted that the mathematical principle of this device requires that the tone arm always travel faster than the repelling time of feed.

The number of circles to the inch onthe record, governs the speed of. tone arm, while the feed screw 10 has uniform motionor speed.

A complete operation of the device-is as follows First the tone arm of phonograph is placed on outer circle or groove of the record; brake lever 32 is then placed in looking position, which releases brake arm from nessure against the perlpheralflange of the.

This continues until the stylusreaches the innermost circle on the record when lever 4: and the truck member 7 of theacarria ge come to a stop, while the truck member 9 and the drop. coupling lever 8 continue under the repelling force of feed screw 10, and lever 8 is forced from resting table 62. Spring 56 then pulls the lever 8 and clutch shifting lever 19 to guide plate 11, this movement releases spring pawl 18 and shifts clutch member 21 into engagement with the clutch member 22, rigidly mounted on shaft 50. As shaft 50 is rotating through the action of the gear train the lateral projection 59 on clutch member 22 engages the rocking lever 23 which is connected to lever 24:] operating through the combination of levers, releases the brake arm 31, causing the brakeshoe 35 to be applied and stop the machine.

At this stopping point pin 3 will have em tered the opening between hook 6 and guide 5, the hook crossing beyond the direct path of the pin. By carrying-the tone arm back for another playing, pin 3 travels back to the pointof guide hook 6, carrying main lever 4t and carriage back into starting positlon'.

From the above it will be understood that the stopping device herein set forth requires no knowledge of its use and operation to carry its objects into effect, as when the tone arm is at the starting point of the record the mechanism has become automatically set, and'when the record has been played to the innermost groove, the brake is automatically applied. In carrying the tone arm back for the next playing'the attachment automatically sets again, all within its own movements.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination in a talking machine, of a turn table, atone arm, a brake disposed to lock the table against rotation, means for holding the brake'in off position, a rotating screw shaft, means for driving said shaft from the driving mechanism of the machine, clutch means carried by said shaft, means coacting with the clutch means for actuating the means which holds the brake in off position, the said parts being so interconnected that upon stoppage of movement of the tone arm the movement of the screw shaft will cause release of the brake and cause its application.v

2. The combination in a talking machine, of a turn table, a tone arm having a finger projecting therefrom, a spring controlled brake adapted to engage and lock the turn table against rotation, means for holding said brake in inoperative position, a rotary screw feedi shaft, a gear train for driving said screw shaft, clutch means carried by said shaft, a reciprocable carriage mounted to travel parallel with the screw shaft, a yielding pawl carried by said carriage and engageable with said shaft, a control lever loosely engaging said carriage, and adapted to be engaged and swung on its fulcrum by the finger 011 the tone arm, and means interposed between said carriage and the clutch means on the shaft, whereby stoppage of the movement of the tone arm toward the center of the turn table will release the brake for application to the turn table.

3. The combination in a talking machine, of a turn table, and a spindle driving the same, a gear train driven by said spindle, a tone arm, a supporting plate, a screw feed shaft mounted on said supporting plate, said shaft driven from said gear train, a brake lever carrying a brake shoe adapted to engage said turn table and prevent its rotation, a hand brake lever section, movably mounted on the firstnamed brake lever, a detent for engaging said lever sections and hold the brake in off position, spring means for controlling said brakeand said detent, clutch means carried by the screw shaft, a control lever, and connections between the tone arm and said control, a flexible carriage, a flexible pawl carried by said carriage and engageable with said screw shaft, and other lever means interposed between said screw shaft and the brake detent, whereby when the motion of the tone arm is stopped, the brake will be released and applied.

4. An automatic brake for 'phonographs as set forth in claim 3, the carriage consisting of a pair of spaced trucks, a connecting member therefor normally in alinement with said trucks, the connecting member having pivotal connection with one carriage and a limited sliding connecting with the other truck, the carriage also carrying a flexible pawl adapted for engagement with the threaded shaft to propel the carriage, said connecting member adapted to be forced out of alinement with the truck members, and swing on lever to actuate the clutch operating means. r

5. A structure as specified in claim 3, one of the clutch members carrying a tappet, a rocking lever actuated by said tappet,'a repelling lever having pivotal connection with said rocking lever, said repelling lever' coacting with other levers to trip the detent of the brake levers, to release the brake and apply same to the turn table.

6. In an automatic stop for phonographs as set forth in claim 4, the control lever further provided with a sector guide pivotally connected therewith, said sector guide having a limited relative movement with respect to the control lever.

7 In an automatic stop for phonographs,

as set forth in claim l, the carriage consistingof a pair of truckmembers, one member adapted to be engaged by the control" lever, and having a supporting shoulder for a connecting member pivotally connected with the other truck member, and slidably connected with the lever moved truck memher, a spring pawl carried by the connecting member and adapted to engage the threaded shaft, a spring controlling said connecting member to cause it to'connect with a Clutch 7 7 operating lever.

. BLAKE WILLIAM GARDNER. V 

